Alakananda Sikdar wrote:

learning new things expands your knowledge whether you read it in a book, listen to podcast, watch a video or experience things yourself.  However, reading gives you an edge over the other medium. you can refine and and choose the stuff you want to know about of the time you want to devote it to.

Learning new things always helps. It is a treasure worth millions. Your knowledge this gained will be honored and respected by the people

rambabu wrote:

Just reading a lot is not enough. One should understand  and  spread wnat you read and help those who are really in need of knowledge.

I hope you meant that in the general sense ..Because knowing your half baked knowledge, spreading that would be disastrous for others..

A well read person is surely intelligent. But how many read well.

According to many Indian middle class households​ , reading a lot and the level of intelligence are one and the same ...